2. Phone E-Mail Faith.Cory@cvisd.org Claudette.Best@cvisd.org
We are excited to start this new school year. Your child will have two teachers this year. Ms. Cory will be teaching reading, writing and social studies. Mrs. Best will be teaching math and science. In this packet you will find useful information. We recommend keeping this in a safe place so that you may refer to it throughout the school year. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask!
We prefer to be contacted by class dojo, school phone or . The times we are available to answer calls are before/after school and during our conference time from 10:50-11:40. Unfortunately, school policy does not allow us to take calls outside of these time periods. We will try to get back with you as soon as possible. If you would like a conference about your child, we are available for face to face conferences during our conference time or after school, please schedule an appointment.
Phone
Ms. Cory: *1625
Mrs. Best: *1682

3. Tentative Schedule Ms. Cory Class A Homeroom
8:10–School starts- Begin with Homeroom Teacher
8:10–8:25- Restrooms/Announcements/Homework Check
8:30–9:30– Guided Reading- Prime Time
9:30-10:00- Phonics
10:00–10:20- Read Aloud/Skill
10:20–10:50- Writer’s Workshop/Social Studies
10:50-11:40- Groups
11:40–12:05–Restroom/Switch Classes
12:05-12:35- Lunch
12:35-12:55- Recess
12:55-3:25– Math/Science
3:25-3:30- Switch Classes
3:35-3:40– Dismissal

4. Tentative Schedule Mrs. Best
Class B Homeroom
8:10–School starts- Begin with Homeroom Teacher
8:10–8:25 – Restrooms/Announcements/Homework Check
8:30–8:50– Math Lesson
8:50-10:20- Guided Math/Small Group/Math Stations
10:20–10:50- Science
10:50-11:40- Groups
11:40–12:05–Work Check/Restroom/Switch classes
12:05-12:35- Lunch
12:35-1:2:55- Recess
12:55-3:25 ELA
3:25-3:30 Switch Classes
3:30-3:40– Dismissal

5. Curriculum
First grade will be an exciting year of learning for your child. This year we will be implementing a school wide program called AVID, this will help students with note-taking, organizations and college readiness (yes, even for 1st graders)! More information to come!
Reading: To meet the needs of all students, we will be implementing a Balanced Literacy program during Reading/Language Arts. This will include guided reading, literacy stations, writing, computer programs, and phonics. In order to measure the progress of the students, I will be taking grades in the following manner.
Vocabulary Checks- Starting the 2nd week
Grammar Skills- weekly tests
Spelling tests – on Friday starting the 3rd week
Writing: We will be writing a lot this year. We will write stories, lists, cards, letters, and even a non-fiction research book. I look forward to sharing my love of writing with your child.
Social Studies: Family, Community, Citizenship, America Past & Present
Math: In math, we will be using a hands-on approach to learning math through Guided Math. Students will have the opportunity to explore and manipulate math in many different ways. They will be introduced to many skills: addition, subtraction, geometry, telling time; measuring; graphing; place value, skip counting ,money; counting and identifying numbers to 120,problem solving, and financial literacy.
Science: Senses; Technology; Matter; Energy; Resources; Weather; Space; Animals; Plants

6. Homework Policies & Procedures
Students will bring their take-home binder home everyday. Binders will contain:
Monthly calendar for students to keep up with dates and assignments.
Reading Logs . These should be filled out everyday, Monday – Thursday. Students can read to parents, an older sibling or someone can read to them. (Book is their choice.) They need to read for at least 20 minutes and logs need to be one sentence about the story. Students will be sent home a book back with 4 books to help create fluency, students can pick one of these books to write in their reading log. (Will be sent home in red book bags.) All red book bags are due on Friday, starting the 3rd full week of school.
Graded papers and handouts will be placed in folder on Wednesdays.
Homework will also be placed in binder. Look out for weekly vocabulary lists for students to memorize. All spelling will be done in class not for homework. PLEASE send time reading with your child every night for at least 20 minutes.
We will also have several projects throughout the year that students will be expected to complete. I encourage you to assist you child, but all work should be the student’s. The work should be in the student’s handwriting and the student should be able to explain their project to the teacher and class.
Math homework will be sent home on Monday’s and due on Friday’s
Binders should be returned everyday. Please keep Binder cleaned out.
Binders/homework not returned, will result in a color change.

7. Good behavior is essential to create a positive learning environment
Good behavior is essential to create a positive learning environment. We will communicate your child’s behavior through class dojo. Please download the app and get the notifications so you may see positive points that your child earns throughout the day. If your child loses a point and a deeper explanation is required, we will message you through class dojo as well. We will be implementing a color coded behavior system for students to have a visual representation of their behavior. Students will be rewarded for excellent behavior as well as redirected for inappropriate behavior. Every student will begin the day on green. Staying on green means your child had a good day. Students will be rewarded for good behavior. The colors are as follows:
Pink= outstanding
Purple= awesome
Blue = good job
Green = ready to learn
Yellow = warning, 5 minutes off recess
Orange= teacher’s choice, miss half of recess;
note to parent
Red= no recess; parent notified; or principal

8. Birthdays & Celebrations
* We love to celebrate birthdays in 1st grade. You may send treats with your child on their special day to share with their classmates. We generally celebrate in the afternoon, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher concerning date and time.
We will also have a Christmas party and an Easter party this year. We will send more information as we approach these days.
ATTENTION: School policy does not allow home-cooked items for these events and everything must be peanut free.

9. Make our wishes come true
Wish List
Make our wishes come true
Lysol Wipes
Lysol Spray
Glue Sticks
Pink Erasers
Sandwich Ziplock Bags
Gallon Ziplock Bags (that slide to lock)
Tissue Boxes
Markers
Colored Pencils
Package of Copy Paper
Dry Erase Markers
Pencils
Manila Construction paper

10. Volunteer Opportunity: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Making copies
Cutting and preparing stations
Reading with students
Going over sight words/math vocabulary with students
Working with students during literacy stations
Work with students during math stations
If you are interested in volunteering, then please indicate the numbers below of which volunteer opportunity you would like to be apart of. Please indicate at least three options. Please return this form as soon as possible. I will contact you as soon as we are ready to welcome volunteers!
Name: _______________________
Contact info: (phone or ): _________________________
Volunteer Opportunity:

13. Name of Student: Birthday: Car Rider, Bus Rider, Walker, Daycare (circle the way your child will go home each day) Name of Parent(s) the child lives with: Address: Phone #: Preferred contact: ; phone; note Best time to contact: Other information or comments: